He could
suggest no possible cause why anyone should wish to destroy
them -- in fact, he laughed at the idea. Their wholesale price
was six shillings, but the retailer would get twelve or more.
The cast was taken in two moulds from each side of the face, and
then these two profiles of plaster of Paris were joined together
to make the complete bust. The work was usually done by
Italians in the room we were in. When finished the busts were
put on a table in the passage to dry, and afterwards stored.
That was all he could tell us.
But the production of the photograph had a remarkable effect
upon the manager. His face flushed with anger, and his brows
knotted over his blue Teutonic eyes.
"Ah, the rascal!" he cried. "Yes, indeed, I know him very well.
This has always been a respectable establishment, and the only
time that we have ever had the police in it was over this very
fellow. It was more than a year ago now. He knifed another
Italian in the street, and then he came to the works with the
police on his heels, and he was taken here. Beppo was his
name -- his second name I never knew. Serve me right for
engaging a man with such a face.
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